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Han Solo
Biographical information
Homeworld	Corellia
Born	29 BBY (6) , Corellia
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Height	1.8 meters[1]
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Chronological and political information
Era(s)	Rise of the Empire era Rebellion era New Republic era New Jedi Order era Legacy era
Affiliation	Galactic Empire Hutt Cartel Alliance to Restore the Republic Alliance of Free Planets New Republic Independent Shippers Association Galactic Federation of Free Alliances Five Worlds, later Confederation

[Source]

Han Solo was a Human from Corellia who achieved galactic fame as a member of the Rebel Alliance and later the New Republic. Born on Corellia, he was abandoned at an early age and taken by the pirate Garris Shrike to serve on his crew. He was treated cruelly, and served Shrike for many years before escaping while in his teens. Solo became a smuggler, and fell in love with Bria Tharen, though she left him due to her duties to the Rebel Alliance. Solo then entered the Imperial Academy at Carida, serving with distinction. He was kicked out, however, when he stopped an Imperial officer from beating a Wookiee named Chewbacca. In gratitude, the Wookiee swore a life debt to Solo. He became a smuggler once again, with Chewbacca at his side. Piloting the Millennium Falcon, he was known as one of the best smugglers in the galaxy.

Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. Solo helped Skywalker destroy the Death Star when it attacked the Rebel base at Yavin IV, where they had taken Organa. Solo became an unofficial member of the Rebel Alliance, and fell in love with Organa. He helped destroy the Second Death Star at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, in which Emperor Palpatine was killed. A year later, the New Republic was founded.

Solo married Organa in 9 ABY, and the two had three children. As the New Republic was threatened by many enemies in its first years of existence, Solo was always on the move, sometimes traveling with Skywalker, who was Organa’s brother. Along with his wife and faithful Wookiee friend, Solo fought against Warlord Zsinj, Grand Admiral Thrawn, the reborn Emperor Palpatine, Admiral Daala and the Yevetha. In 25 ABY the New Republic was attacked by the Yuuzhan Vong. The war that followed lasted four years and was extremely bloody. Chewbacca and Solo’s son Anakin Solo died during the war, deaths that haunted the ex-smuggler. The Vong were eventually defeated and the New Republic was reformed into the Galactic Alliance. In 40 ABY, his son Jacen turned to the dark side of the Force, and took control of the Galactic Alliance. Solo and his wife joined a rebel faction opposing Jacen Solo, and the two were prepared to kill him, as they no longer saw him as their son.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

[edit] Childhood

There were many rumors and speculation as to what happened to Han Solo in his earlier years. He was the subject of several holofilms, documentaries, and at least two supposed "autobiographies" whose true authorship was questionable. For example, one contested account said that Solo was raised by Wookiees from age seven to twelve after his parents left him.

Han is bullied by a group of kids.

In reality, Han Solo was abandoned by his parents at an early age, and his earliest memories were of being found in a Corellian spaceport by Garris Shrike. Shrike took Solo in as a member of his band of vagabonds, training and using him in his underhanded enterprises. First, Han was sent out as a beggar, using his young appearance to get handouts. When he was older, Han learned how to pickpocket by first practicing on a droid of Shrike's, and then being sent out into the streets. During this time, Solo was befriended by Dewlanna, a Wookiee who was serving as a cook aboard Trader's Luck, Shrike's ship. Dewlanna raised Solo as her own son, teaching him Shyriiwook and taking care of him when he became ill. Han would go on to participate in numerous scams and illegal activities under Shrike's direction, including participating in an asteroid mining scam and swoop racing.^[2]

Though Solo wanted to learn more about his family, especially his parents, Shrike kept all that information from him in order to better keep him under his control. For years, he did not even know his family name. At one point, soon after learning from Dewlanna that he was part of the famous Solo line, he ran away from Shrike on Corellia. There, he tracked down his long lost aunt Tiion Solo and his cousin, Thrackan Sal-Solo. The reunion with his family went badly, however—his aunt was a housebound madwoman, while his cousin was a sadistic bully who eventually sold him out to Shrike.^[2] Han did not learn about his parents, Jonash and Jaina Solo, until he reached adulthood. Exactly how they died is unknown.

[edit] Adventures with Shrike

Han Solo visited many planets on the behest of Shrike. During a mission on Corellia, Han befriended the half-breed Bey, an individual he would later encounter during the Nagai Invasion, shortly after the Battle of Endor. There are also scattered reports that claim Han Solo was present on Kashyyyk during the battle there, near the tail-end of the Clone Wars. Why Shrike would have put young Solo in such dangerous circumstances remains unknown. Similar reports have been made about a brief run-in with bounty hunters searching for an escaped Jedi on the planet Socorro.^[3]

Han cares for the injured Bey.

Solo's education was spotty, like those of the other children Shrike used as beggars and thieves. Though most of the children received only an elementary education from the ship's computer on Trader's Luck, he managed with Dewlanna's help to pick up some knowledge of mathematics, physics, and history by reading in his spare time. Intermittently, he would attend school while going undercover as part of a "respectable family" while Shrike was running a complicated con. At one point, Solo briefly attended a school where Garm Bel Iblis gave a speech. Afterwards, he asked the Senator two insightful questions, which impressed Bel Iblis. Years later, during the Thrawn campaign (9 ABY), the senator would still recall meeting Solo.^[2]

Solo earned his keep for Shrike doing a variety of unsavory jobs. He once joined a pirate group operated by cutthroats Lemo and Sanda. He made a name for himself racing repulsorlift swoops professionally and on the independent circuit. In these days, Solo made an enemy out of a Corellian swoop jockey named Dengar. During one highly publicized race through the crystal swamps of Agrilat, Solo caused Dengar to crash headfirst into a crystalline plant, severely crippling the other racer. Dengar, who would hold a grudge against Solo for the rest of his life, would later become a bounty hunter contracted to find him.^[4]

In 12 BBY, Solo was sentenced to fight in the Regional Sector Number Four's All-Human Free-For-All on the penal-colony world of Jubilar for cheating at cards, a felony there. Matched against three other human fighters much larger than himself, Solo somehow managed to defeat the other gladiators in unarmed combat, suffering numerous broken bones. Just prior to the onset of the fight, Solo caught a glimpse of a mysterious figure wearing Mandalorian armor, his first encounter, albeit indirect, with the notorious Boba Fett.^[5]

In 10 BBY, Solo was ready to leave Trader's Luck in order to start his own career. He made plans to stowaway aboard Ylesian Dream, an automated freighter, and go to Ylesia, where he would apply for a job opening advertised by the Ylesian high priests. When Solo was about to leave, Shrike and a few of his cohorts caught him as he was saying goodbye to Dewlanna. The armed men tried to stop Solo, but Dewlanna sacrificed herself so that Solo could escape. Solo promised to himself that, if ever he had the chance, he would help one of Dewlanna's people to repay his debt to her.^[2]

[edit] Pre-military career

Solo stowed away aboard Ylesian Dream and after a difficult flight arrived on Ylesia. He applied for the piloting job under the alias Vykk Draygo; he was to pilot the Ylesian Dream—being a drone ship, it had been falling victim to pirate attacks. A Togorian by the name of Muuurgh was assigned to be Solo's 'bodyguard', and, despite some initial tension due to the nature of the relationship, Solo and Muuurgh became fast friends. Solo also developed a relationship with one of the pilgrims who had come to Ylesia seeking religious sanctuary—a Human woman by the name of Bria Tharen. Solo remained in the High Priests' employ for a time, but after discovering the true nature of the operation- a complete scam designed to lure Pilgrims into becoming slaves-he fled the planet with Tharen, Muuurgh, and Mrrov, Muuurgh's wife-to-be. Also key in his flight was that Bria, who had also learned the truth about the Ylesian fraud, was to be married to Ganar Tos. In the process, Solo and Tharen stole a small cache of treasures from the High Priest Toroenza's treasure room and indirectly killed Zavval, the Hutt administrator of Ylesia. This would come back to haunt him later in his life as many bounty hunters would be after him due to the bounty placed on his head by Zavval's relatives.^[2]

Solo and Tharen eventually made their way to Coruscant so that Solo could fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot in the Imperial Navy. There, Han had his identity completely changed, including new retinal patterns by Nici the Specialist. They remained together for a short time, but in the end Tharen left Solo without warning because she felt that she was holding him back. She felt that her struggles with the addictive "Exultation" of the Ylesian t'landa Til would hinder Han's career.^[2]

Just after he was accepted into the Academy of Carida, he was attacked by Garris Shrike, who was one of the few people who knew that 'Vyyk Draygo' and Han Solo were the same person. Han was certain to have been doomed to Hutt retribution, but another bounty hunter killed Shrike and Han was able to kill that hunter. The next day he shipped out to Carida.^[2]

[edit] Service in the Imperial Starfleet

Solo as an Imperial cadet.

Solo was crushed at Tharen's departure, but he followed his dreams (and Tharen's wishes) and went to study at the Academy of Carida.^[2] There he would hone his skills as a pilot. Among his fellow students were future TIE Fighter ace Soontir Fel and Solo's friend Mako Spince.^[6]

Solo graduated at the top of his class with the rank of lieutenant. However, his hard-earned military career was short lived. In 5 BBY, he was dispatched to aid Commander Nyklas in duties including slaving and construction work. In this capacity, Han boarded a derelict slaving craft to find that its cargo (Wookiee children) had escaped and that a badly wounded Wookiee was in the pilot's seat. Nyklas ordered Han to skin the helpless Chewbacca, but Han refused and Nyklas swore to punish the Corellian. Shortly afterwards, Han and Chewbacca were put to work on the construction of a new wing of the Imperial Hall of Heroes on Coruscant by Wookiee slaves. An enraged Chewbacca turned on Nyklas, who drew his blaster on the Wookiee. Solo refused to let Chewbacca die; he stunned his commanding officer and helped Chewbacca escape, with the assistance of the Rebel Alliance. Court-martialled and dishonorably discharged, Solo returned to smuggling with Chewbacca (who had sworn a life debt to the Corellian) at his side.^[6]

Solo later reflected that even without Chewbacca he probably would have left Imperial service anyway, due to the ridiculous regulations, incompetent officers and widespread anti-alien prejudice.^[6]

Solo earned both classes of the Corellian Bloodstripe at some point during his military career, though the reasons for his first-class stripe are unknown. All that is known is that the events through which he earned them took place over several days. Because they were non-Imperial awards, they were the sole decorations that were not stripped from his uniform after his court-martial.^[6] Alexsandr Badure did later inform an interviewer that Solo's second-class bloodstripes came from an incident dealing with a Wookiee.^[7]

[edit] Smuggling career

Solo in his smuggling career.

Initially, Han was not happy to have the big Wookiee around. He had saved Chewbacca out of remembrance of Dewlanna, but it had cost him his life's dreams. Han spent much time drinking and playing sabacc, until he was accused of cheating by an irritated Barabel named Shallamar. He probably would have been seriously injured if Chewbacca had not stepped in. After that, Han and Chewbacca grew much closer.^[6]

Solo's friend Mako Spince, who had been expelled from the Academy two years before graduation, helped Solo and Chewbacca get started as smugglers. Using Nar Shaddaa as their home base, the three of them enjoyed considerable success. Solo and Chewbacca also frequently worked for the Hutt Lords Jiliac and Jabba. They piloted many of their ships, including both Hutts' personal yachts. Solo also befriended Lando Calrissian, a gambler who saved him from the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett, and Jarik "Solo", a street urchin who claimed to be a long-lost relative. Han discovered that Jarik's claim was a lie, but he took the youth under his wing anyway. He also became romantically involved with the magician Xaverri and later fellow smuggler Salla Zend. During his time with Xaverri, Han became her stage assistant, and performed across the galaxies in her shows. He also served in the other part of her work- schemes designed to hurt the Empire and Imperial officials. At one point, Han even taught Lando how to fly in a ship that would be the center of much of Han's life-the Millennium Falcon.^[6]

Han also bought his own ship, the Bria, from Lando, and restored it to spaceworthy condition with the help of Shug Ninx. When the Empire sent a fleet to raze the Smuggler's Moon, Han and his friends rallied a force of smugglers and pirates to victory in the Battle of Nar Shaddaa. Shortly after the battle, as Han was paying the Imperial admiral that the Hutts had agreed to bribe in exchange for his battle plans, the Bria was destroyed by Imperial fighters. Han and Chewbacca worked again with Mako, until he was crippled during a smuggling run in the Ottega system. Solo and Chewbacca continued their career on their own.^[6]

Short on cash, Han pawned his last stolen treasure from Toroenza's cache and entered the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament.^[6] Against all odds he reached the tournament finals and beat his friend Lando, winning the Millennium Falcon with his earnings. For a time afterwards Han Solo and Chewbacca worked in the Corporate Sector, the Tion Hegemony, and other remote but potentially lucrative sectors of the galaxy. Part of Solo's motivation for these travels was a desire to get away from Salla Zend and her wedding plans, as he was not ready for such a commitment.^[8] Solo would later boast that he had been "from one side of the galaxy to the other."

Jabba the Hutt talks to Solo.

While in the Corporate Sector, their ship was damaged while smuggling weapons to insurgents on Duroon. However, they did collect payment from the insurgents and went to pay off Ploovo Two-For-One, but in a rather creative manner. Given the prickly relationship and even outright disgust they had for each other, Han bought a foul, irritable, putrid dinko, attached the payment to it, and unleashed on the unfortunate employer. Although Corporate Sector Security arrived at the establishment where they were, Han and Chewbacca escaped their grasp relatively unscathed. Payment completed, they went off to find the outlaw tech "Doc" Vandangante's hideout, only to discover he had been taken to the Corporate Sector Authority prison at Stars' End. Doc's daughter Jessa offered upgrades and repairs to his ship, and a Corporate Sector waiver, in exchange for Han helping rescue Doc and other prisoners. Before he could take off, the outlaw techs were attacked by IRD-A Fighters. Piloting a Z-95 Headhunter, Han led the other techs and Jessa in defense of the base. Despite heavy losses, they were successful. To complete their rescue mission for Jessa, Solo and Chewbacca were given two droids, Bollux and Blue Max, and went to the agriworld Orron III to meet up with a group led by Rekkon planning the prison rescue. Though Solo was initially only interested in getting the repairs for his ship, his motives became personal when Chewbacca was captured. After dealing with a traitor in the group, Solo and the others arrived at Stars' End. In order to gain entry, Han, Atuarre, Pakka, Bollux and Blue Max posed as a troupe of entertainers. The rescue proved successful; freeing Chewbacca, Doc, and the other prisoners and destroying the Stars' End in the process. After the Falcon was repaired, Solo and Chewbacca left the Corporate Sector for a time, taking Bollux and Blue Max with them.

After a disastrous incident on Kamar, where Solo and Chewbacca accidentally began a religion (the Cult of Varn) before having to flee with their lives, they returned to the Corporate Sector. There, they were contracted to transport cargo from Lurr. When they discovered the cargo was a group of Lurrian slaves, Solo freed the slaves and killed the slaver Zlarb. Since they had not been paid for their cargo run, Solo and Chewbacca decided to track down Zlarb's partner on Bonadan and get the promised ten thousand credits as revenge. While on Bonadan, Han was jumped and nearly overcome by a mysterious figure and Chewbacca encountered a skip-tracer, Spray, trying to possess their ship for debts and regulation compliance. However, Han and Chewbacca became mixed up with a CSA Auditor, Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla, who was investigating the slavers also. Han went to meet an associate of hers, Magg, but he betrayed them. Forced to flee on a swoop bike, they made it off planet after a harrowing encounter and planned to meet up with Chewbacca on Ammuud. Chewbacca was also forced to make a somewhat hurried escape. While Han and Fiolla were on the transport that was taking them to meet Chewbacca, they were attacked by pirates, who were looking for them. They escaped in one of the pirate's craft and landed at the nearby estates of the Mor Glayyd. Han and Chewbacca were eventually reunited after Han saved the Mor Glayyd from a duel which would have gotten him killed. The Glayyd estate provided Han with a way to get back to the Falcon and Chewbacca. As Han was leaving the planet, he was pursued by the pirates/slavers. However, at that point a CSA Victory-class Star Destroyer intervened and tractor beamed both ships. Though they helped her break up the gang, they barely escaped being arrested by another CSA executive, Odumin, who had really been the tracer Spray, and earned the enmity of a hired gun named Gallandro. They did, however, manage to steal the money Solo felt the CSA owed them.

Han Solo and Fiolla on a swoop bike.

Giving up on the Corporate Sector, the Falcon's crew attempted clotheslegging in the Cron Drift and a currency exchange scam in the Lesser Plooriod Cluster before finding themselves short on cash and stuck in the Tion Hegemony. After several misadventures, they joined with Solo's old friend Badure, a young woman named Hasti, and a Ruurian historian named Skynx on a hunt for Xim the Despot's long-lost treasure ship, Queen of Ranroon. On Dellalt, they finally discovered the treasure vaults. After run-ins with the "Survivors" (the descendants of Xim's soldiers) and their ancient War-Robots, Solo finally discovered the vaults. Though Gallandro followed him to the vaults and challenged the smuggler to a duel, the automatic defense systems killed the gunfighter. Solo and his associates then recovered the treasure—unfortunately for them, after all those years it had become outdated war matériel. The two droids stayed with Skynx when Solo and Chewbacca left the Tion Hegemony.

Han Solo and Katya M'Buele hunted by Kharys on the restricted world of Skye.

During this period, Solo and Chewbacca worked for Jabba the Hutt on occasion. They also had several run-ins with the Rebel Alliance. Senators Mon Mothma and Leia Organa became aware of Solo when he began to lead efforts to free Wookiee slaves from Kashyyyk, as a favor to Chewbacca (who had begun to lose friends and family members to the slaving effort. Solo reluctantly allowed the Alliance to help him in this effort, despite his disdain for political causes, and the Alliance soon became one of his frequent employers.

After being saved from an Imperial fleet over Corellia, Han and Chewie helped plant an EMP charge on a shipment that was delivered to an Imperial facility over Corulag and helped steal Mon Calamari cruiser schematics on Carida. This last mission almost got them killed, and afterwards Han swore off involvement with the Alliance and swore to keep his distance from the Galactic Civil War, until he was thrust into the center of galactic politics again after events on Tatooine.^[9]

At some point in his smuggling career, he partnered with Katya M'Buele as part of a Corellian rim-runner's crew. They were the only survivors among the crew when a suggling operation on Skye was discovered by the planet's Imperial-assigned Majestrix, Kharys. Until they met again in 2 ABY, Solo stayed away from Skye, fearing Kharys would come after him.^[10]

Solo's heaviest involvement with the fledgling Rebel Alliance occurred when he and other smugglers, including Lando Calrissian and Jarik Solo aided Bria Tharen's Red Hand Squadron in raiding the Ylesian colonies and putting them out of business—a plan endorsed, aided, and supported by Jabba, a business rival of Ylesia. In the subsequent battle, the Alliance forces were victorious, but several smugglers, including Jarik Solo, were killed. Han and his smuggler friends were double-crossed by Tharen who seized all the spice and treasures that were to be the smugglers' reward for the Alliance.^[8]

Soon afterwards, he met with Tharen again during a Hutt-sponsored treasure hunt for the Yavin Vassilika. Once again, Tharen took the prize for the Rebellion, while Solo and his smuggling associates were left with nothing. Solo and Tharen left on poor terms on both occasions, since Solo refused to give up his independent ways and join Tharen in the Alliance. However, most of his fellow smugglers assumed that he had been working with Tharen from the beginning. Even one of his closest friends, Lando Calrissian, said that he never wanted to see him again.^[8]

[edit] Early Galactic Civil War

[edit] Working for Jabba

Han Solo in the Mos Eisley Cantina.

Han continued to work for Jabba the Hutt as a smuggler, but once, while smuggling glitterstim, Han was boarded by an Imperial patrol and had to dump his load of spice. Han never did recover the spice. As a small consolation, Han and Chewbacca made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs after an attempt to recover the dumped spice turned nasty. As a warning, Jabba hired Greedo the Younger, a novice bounty hunter, to let Solo know that he was serious about getting paid. However, the Hutt lord was not renowned for patience, and none of Solo's smuggler friends would help him. Solo was also dealt another personal blow at this time, when Boba Fett broke the news of Bria Tharen's death at the Battle of Toprawa to Solo.^[8]

In an attempt to (presumably) find the funds to pay off Jabba, Han and Chewbacca were hired to transport an imprisoned crime lord, Tyber Zann off the prison world of Kessel. Though the deal did not transpire exactly as planned, much to Solo's annoyance, the duo transported Zann and his associate Urai Fen as agreed, though only after an increased fee.

Since Han Solo still had not paid Jabba the Hutt, the crimelord sent Greedo to collect the money from Solo, dead or alive. When Greedo found Solo in the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine the next day, it became clear that he intended to kill Solo rather than give him a chance to pay Jabba. Han shot Greedo under the table, then paid the bartender for 'the mess', as he put it. Later, Solo found Jabba and a band of his thugs in Docking Bay 94, where the Millennium Falcon was docked. Solo managed to convince Jabba to give him more time, promising to repay him what he owed plus fifteen percent after being paid for a routine charter flight he and Chewbacca had recently arranged in the cantina, with an old man and a young farmboy.

[edit] Mercenary turned Rebel

Solo infiltrates the Death Star wearing stormtrooper armor.

The passengers, of course, were Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, who meant to escort the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 from Tatooine to Alderaan on behalf of the Rebel Alliance. When they arrived in the Alderaan system, the crew and passengers of the Millennium Falcon found that the planet had been destroyed by the Death Star. After they were dragged on board by the Death Star's tractor beams, Skywalker convinced Solo and Chewbacca to help him rescue Princess Leia Organa by promising a reward "richer than [he] could possibly imagine". Han helped Luke infiltrate the massive station in stolen stormtrooper armor, and after several misadventures they managed to rescue the Princess and escape, at the cost of Obi-Wan's life.

Afterwards, Solo took Leia, Skywalker, and the droids to Yavin 4 to collect his reward. Though he was initially willing to abandon the Rebels and make off with his fee, an attack of conscience, (brought on partly by Chewbacca's arguments) led him to join the Battle of Yavin at the last moment. The Millennium Falcon joined in just in time for Solo to destroy Black 3, which caused Black 2 to collide with and disable Darth Vader's TIE advanced. This allowed Skywalker to destroy the Death Star, scoring a major victory for the Alliance and recognition for Solo.

[edit] Hero of the Alliance

Han and Luke Skywalker receive the Alliance Medal of Bravery.

Solo and Skywalker were both awarded medals of honor for their efforts, and Solo was handsomely rewarded with 20,000 Alliance Credits and a stash of valuables. The day after the Battle of Yavin, he shot down an Imperial cruiser that was searching for the Death Star, much to the chagrin of his superiors. The chests of treasure the Rebels had given him were stolen from him almost immediately after leaving Yavin by the space pirate Crimson Jack (who, ironically, had ties to the Hutt crimelord), leaving Solo still unable to pay off Jabba. With the help of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, Solo managed to defeat the pirate. Following the debacle, Solo gave the recovered money back to the Alliance.

Broke and fearing Jabba's retribution, Solo and Chewbacca discovered an ancient cache of treasure hidden in one of Yavin 4's temples. He took the treasure to an Ithorian named Sprool on Dennogra, who in turn delivered the money to Jabba. It was, however, too little and too late. Jabba kept the money and refused to call off the bounty. Han Solo was still a hunted man with a price on his head. He, however, used money earned from selling more of the treasure to purchase new T-65 X-Wings for the Rebellion.

Later, Han and Chewbacca were hired by Ramiz, a moisture farmer on Aduba-3, to protect his village from a band of local thugs known as the Cloud-Riders led by Serji-X Arrogantus. To help with this task, Han and Chewbacca hired six misfit spacers, including Don-Wan Kihotay, a Human who believed himself to be a Jedi Knight, Jaxxon, a Lepi with a mean disposition, and Jimm Doshun and his droid FE-9Q. Han, Chewbacca and the Star-Hoppers of Aduba-3 arrived at Ramiz's village, Onacra, only to find it under attack by high-hounds. They managed to drive away the beasts, saving the life of a young girl named Merri to the great relief of her father Oncho, the village spokesman. But their relief was short-lived once Serji-X Arrogantus and his gang attacked. Han and the Star-Hoppers did their best to defend the village but it was to no avail as FE-9Q was killed and Merri's grandfather, the Old One, dismissed the hired spacers' help. Instead of relying on Han and his team, the shaman summoned a large, mythical reptilian monster called the Behemoth from the World Below to handle the invading Cloud-Riders. Many members of the Star-Hoppers died trying to destroy the creature. Using Kihotay's lightsaber, Han managed to kill the deadly beast once and for all.

Han Solo and Chewbacca left Aduba-3 soon after, in the Millennium Falcon, only to be captured once again by Crimson Jack and his gang of pirates. Princess Leia Organa had also been captured by the pirate while on her way to the Drexel system to find out what happened to Luke, and Jack intended to hold the Princess for ransom. But Han and Leia secretly devised a plan to trick the pirates into taking them to the Drexel system by claiming that the Rebels have stockpiled a treasure there. Accepting Solo's claim, Jack went to Drexel II where the met up with Luke and encountered Quarg, the Governor of Drexel II, and the Dragon Lords. Han managed to escape on the Falcon, only to crash it near Quarg's ship. Teaming up with the Dragon Lords, Han and Luke managed to save Leia, the droids, and Chewbacca. Han then faced off against Jack in space where he shot the pirate, killing him.

After a misadventure on the massive gambling complex known as the Wheel, Solo hid out for repairs on Orleon and was soon besieged by an emissary of Jabba the Hutt. Within a week, Solo had rescued the emissary from stone mites and, by some miracle, had the bounty taken off his head. He returned to Tatooine, and started to heal his relationship with the Hutt. He made Kessel Runs for the crimelord, even beating BoShek's most recent record-breaking time. Sadly, this was not to last. The remains of Crimson Jack's Star Destroyer were discovered by the Hutt's agents, and within days the bounty was back on Solo's head. An even higher reward was registered for anyone who would capture him alive so Jabba could kill Solo himself.

While evading Jabba's organization, Solo and Chewbacca continued to work with the Rebel Alliance for the next three years. Solo became a good friend of Luke Skywalker, and developed a love-hate relationship with Princess Leia, cementing friendships after close encounters with bounty hunters.

Days before the Fifth Battle of Yavin IV, Han was "accused" of being an Imperial spy by Leia Organa. In truth, the accusation was just a ploy to draw out the real spy in their midst.

Six months after the battle of Yavin, Han was supposed to accompany Leia to a diplomatic meeting with Chivkyrie on Shelkonwa, but was reassigned to hunt pirate groups threatening Alliance supply lines, along with Luke. However, he was uncertain of his allegiance to the Rebels and reluctantly accepted the job. While on their mission, they encountered the Hand of Judgment and developed a tenuous relationship with them, even after both sides learned of the other's identity. Together, they defeated a group of BloodScar pirates. Learning that Leia was being hunted on Shelkonwa by the Empire and that the pirates had inside help from the governor's office there, the ex-Imperials and Rebels infiltrated Shelkonwa, with the troopers posing as their escorts while they looked for Leia. Although the rogue stormtroopers left to assist Mara Jade, Luke, Han, and Chewie found Leia and, returning to the Hand of Judgment's ship, escaped once the Hand returned. They were dropped off at the Falcon and made their way back to Alliance headquarters. Leia told him that he could stay in the Alliance for the sake of one person, and while she meant Chewie, Han preferred to think that he was in it for her, and continued to be part of the Alliance.^[11]

Following weeks of searching for Vader's TIE Fighter, Solo and Organa stopped over at Ord Mantell, where he hoped he might make some money on the sabacc tables and try to get Jabba his bounty. Before long, Solo found himself racing the Togorian Alfreda Goot to Tatooine, after the bounty hunter kidnapped Organa. Before long, Solo had inadvertently handed Vader back over the Empire, encountered a prototype Executor, and rescued the princess of Alderaan, all within the span of a short amount of time.

Han and Chewbacca run into danger on Aguarl III.

Later on, Han, accompanied by Chewbacca, Leia, and Deena Shan, traveled to the planet of Aguarl III. During an untimely detour on the dangerous planet, Han and his first mate, Chewbacca, were attacked by the creatures native to the planet. Fortunately, Leia and Deena were able to save them from the dangerous native wildlife.

Nearly a year after the destruction of the Death Star, Chewbacca and Han left for the celebration of Life Day on Kashyyyk. It served as a short break between the periodical fighting. But peace did not last long for the pair. Not long after they departed Tatooine for Kashyyyk, they found themselves once again being chased by the Empire. Fleeing to lightspeed, they went on their way. However, the Empire had apparently traced their route to Kashyyyk, which they rightfully suspected to be a harbor for rebels. Upon learning of this, Darth Vader ordered a blockade and search of the planet. A group of Imperial officers entered Chewbacca's home, terrorizing his family and wrecking the house. They looked for any sign of rebel activity. However, after a while, Chewbacca's son, who then went by the name Lumpawarrump, devised a plan. He used his mini-transmitter, which he had received as a Life Day present from Saun Dann, to send out a voice message through the Imperial airwaves—which changed the sound of Lumpy's voice. He gave the command of "return to base," which the officers in the home picked up on their receivers. They complied, with the exception of the stormtrooper known as B-4711, who was ordered by a superior to stay behind in order to temporarily watch the house for rebel activity. However, the trooper soon learned of Lumpy's trick, and pursued him through the house, out onto the balcony, where Han and Chewbacca had just arrived. Chewbacca roared as Han managed to kill the trooper. That night, the group, along with the other Wookiees on Kashyyyk, celebrated an uninterrupted Life Day.

One year after the Battle of Yavin, Han provided support for Crix Madine and Rogue Squadron during the Battle of Corellia and evacuated the Coronet Capital Tower.

As part of the Rebel Alliance, Solo undertook many missions while trying to evade Jabba's organization. However, no matter how Han tried, he still encountered many bounty hunters who wished to carry out Jabba's bounty. On one such occasion, Han and Chewbacca returned to Ord Mantell where he encountered another bounty hunter seeking to collecting Jabba's bounty, the cyborg Skorr. Skorr had planned to use Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa to lure Solo into a trap. Solo and Chewbacca managed to evade the trap, rescuing Skywalker and the Princess in the process. Skorr accidentally killed himself with his blaster during a duel with Solo.

On another occasion, Han and Chewbacca came into the possession of some valuable glowing Tandgor gems, which he claimed would pay off debts and help pay to modify the Millennium Falcon. They stopped on an unknown planet to get fuel. After landing on the planet, Solo and Chewbacca were confronted by groaning skeletal figures; the undead. Chewbacca was able to fight them off and made a hasty retreat back to the Falcon only to find the fuel line had been severed by someone. Arming themselves, the two-man crew of the Falcon headed back and came face to face with a local and her baby who explained to the two that the crew of a "Great Interplanetary Ark" perished after their ship crashed in the planet's fog. They were compelled to wander the planet as corpses, terrorizing the locals every night.

Using the Tandgor Gems to lay down lines, Han formed a makeshift runway that managed to dissolve the fog. A ghostly apparition of the ship that crashed long ago used it to land, easing the spirits of the perished crew. The living dead would no longer terrorize the planets residents. Han and Chewbacca left the planet out of pocket, but were rewarded with enough fuel to last them the rest of their journey.

[edit] Crisis on Cloud City

Han after destroying a probe droid on Hoth.

After run-ins with bounty hunters such as Skorr and Cypher Bos on Ord Mantell, Solo resolved to leave his friends in the Rebellion and finally settle things with the Hutt. Before he could finish repairs on the Millennium Falcon and leave the Rebels' Echo Base, however, he was caught up in the Imperial attack on Hoth. When Princess Organa and C-3PO were cut off from their evacuation ship, Solo took them on board the Millennium Falcon, which avoided Vader's Death Squadron by hiding in the Hoth asteroid field, then by drifting off amongst the Star Destroyer Avenger's garbage. During their escape, Solo and Leia began to fall in love.

Han and Leia Organa on the Falcon.

Since the Millennium Falcon's repairs were still not complete, Solo went to the nearest safe haven—Bespin, home to Solo's old friend Lando Calrissian's tibanna gas mining facility, Cloud City. Unfortunately for Solo, he had been beaten there by Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Under duress, Calrissian made a deal with the Dark Lord to betray the Rebels in exchange for the continued autonomy of Cloud City.

Calrissian invited them for "refreshments", and led them into a room where Darth Vader stood, waiting. Han, with one of the fastest draws of his life, pulled his blaster and fired a couple shots at Vader, who easily blocked them and snatched the blaster out of Han's hands using the Force. Then, Boba Fett and stormtroopers surrounded the Rebels, capturing them. Solo was badly tortured by the Imperials who, according to him afterward, never even asked him any questions. While in his cell, Calrissian came to talk to the agonized Han. Uncaring about the consequences and furious at Calrissian's betrayal, Han slugged Calrissian before being hit by Bespin guards accompanying the administrator.

Shortly afterwards, Han was taken by the Imperials to be frozen in carbonite as a test to ensure that Luke Skywalker would survive a similar freezing. There, surrounded by Darth Vader and his personal guard, he spoke his last words before being frozen. In response to Leia saying, "I love you" Solo responded, "I know." After being frozen, Han Solo went into a state of hibernation.

Boba Fett took receipt of his carbonite slab for delivery to Jabba's Palace. After escaping Bespin, Skywalker, Leia, Chewbacca, and a repentant Calrissian set about planning Solo's rescue.

[edit] Rescue

Leia wearing Boushh's uniform frees Han from carbonite.

In 4 ABY, the group managed to locate Solo and set up a rescue operation. As a result of careful planning, Solo was brought out of carbon freeze by Leia disguised as Boushh, temporarily suffering from blindness, a symptom of hibernation sickness. However Jabba was aware of Leia's real identity and sentenced Han Solo to death while Leia was to become his new slave. He tried to barter for his life but it was to no avail as he was considered a failure to Jabba. Han reunited with Luke as the two were being carried off to the Sarlacc pit.

At the Sarlacc pit, Luke turned the tables and a battle broke out. During the fight Calrissian redeemed himself by risking his life to save his old friend. Solo accidentally set off Boba Fett's jetpack which sent him flying into Jabba's sail barge then into the Sarlacc (he later survived). Solo then managed to rescue Lando from one of the Sarlacc tentacles while hanging from one of the damaged skiffs, despite hibernation sickness still affecting him. Fighting ended with Leia killing Jabba and Han being reunited with his friends. The heroes quickly escaped Jabba's barge as it exploded due to a chain reaction set off by Luke by firing its cannon into its hull at point-blank range, and then left Tatooine.

Sometime after this incident, Han volunteered to rescue Ithorians from the Empire. Han and Chewbacca found the Ithorians, destroyed several TIE Fighters, and dodged asteroids. They even ran into three more space slugs, barely missing him as they did during the Battle of Hoth.

[edit] Attack on Endor

Han Solo on Endor.

With the death mark no longer on Solo's head, he felt free to devote his time to the Rebellion. After recovering from hibernation sickness, he accepted a general's commission in the Rebel military. General Solo led a commando team, which included Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Chewbacca, on a mission to Endor to destroy the Death Star II's shield generator, which would allow Admiral Ackbar and his fleet to move in and attack the station, hopefully capturing or killing the Emperor in the process.

Han and Leia sharing a passionate kiss on Endor.

On Endor Leia became separated from the group when she chased after two Scout troopers on a speeder bike. Worried, Han, Chewbacca, and Luke, accompanied by R2-D2 and C-3PO, searched through Endor's thick forest in order to locate her. However the group fell into a trap that appealed to Chewbacca's stomach and was captured by Ewoks, natives of Endor. They were eventually freed with the help of Threepio—who the Ewoks mistook for a deity—and Luke. Following their initial encounter, Han and the others became part of the Ewok tribe, forming a close bond with them.

After their initiation into the tribe, Han led his strike force to the shield generator. However, it turned out to be a trap as the Empire knew of their attempt to destroy the generator, and Solo and his force were captured, while a battle raged in space between the Rebel and Imperial fleets. Fortunately, with the help of the Ewoks, Han and the other Rebels were able to turn the tables and capture many Imperials. After planting several thermal detonators, Han destroyed the shield generator in time, allowing General Calrissian to begin his attack on the Death Star. The Death Star was finally destroyed, taking the Emperor with it. As the explosion of the Death Star lit the skies Han and Leia shared a passionate kiss. It was during this time that Han, to his surprise, learned that Leia and Luke were siblings.

[edit] Hero of the New Republic (4 ABY–19 ABY)

[edit] Truce at Bakura and aftermath

Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Solo accompanied Princess Leia and Luke as part of a task force to Bakura, which was under invasion by the Ssi-ruuk. The remaining Imperial forces were outnumbered and outgunned by Ssi-Ruuk invaders and, after the intervention of Alliance forces held off the alien invaders, the result was a truce between the Imperials and the Rebels. Han was uncomfortable in the presence of so many Imperials, and his customary lack of tact annoyed some of them also. While on Bakura, Han tried to deepen his relationship with Leia, but circumstances kept them from spending much time together, and Leia was also distraught by seeing a vision of Anakin Skywalker. After a successful engagement led to the withdrawal of the Ssi-Ruuk, Imperial governor Wilek Nereus betrayed the Rebels and ordered them targeted. Leia was arrested shortly afterwards for sedition but was rescued by Han. In orbit in the Falcon, Han prepared a ramming maneuver to allow the surrounded Alliance forces to escape. Fortunately, Luke was able to convince the Imperial fleet commander to surrender. Solo then aided the short, swift Bakuran overthrow of the government and was present at the surrender of Nereus. Shortly afterwards, the Alliance of Free Planets was founded.^[12]

Solo later commanded Rebel forces in the Second Battle of Kuat in the Millennium Falcon that temporarily teamed with Tyber Zann's forces against Imperial forces in order to destroy the semi-built Eclipse. Together, Zann's fleet and the Solo-commanded rebels destroyed three Imperial Space Stations, and as soon as a boarding party of Zann's had taken over the Eclipse, Solo realized Zann's ruse and attacked, but he and the rebels were soon driven away. Zann proceeded to destroy what remained of the Imperial fleet there and stole information he desired from the Eclipse before leaving it.^[13]

[edit] Encounter with Boba Fett

Though he won the Battle of Endor, Solo found himself in need of credits. Refusing to accept money from the House of Alderaan and the Rebel Alliance, Han, along with Princess Leia and R2-D2, went to Tatooine to access Han's bank account. However, his account was frozen due to his encasement in carbonite. Shortly afterwards, R2-D2 was captured by Jawas. Unbeknownst to Han, the Jawas also captured Boba Fett, who was suffering from amnesia. Han leaped from the moving landspeeder and entered the sandcrawler's cargo hold to find Artoo and Boba Fett; he was surprised the bounty hunter survived the Sarlacc too. Han managed to convince Fett into helping Artoo out of the sandcrawler and onto the racing landspeeder. Unfortunately, Fett regained his memory and tried to shoot Solo but missed. Solo and the others fled Tatooine, leaving Boba Fett and the Jawas to be eaten by the Sarlacc.

[edit] Nagai-Tof War

After the Alliance of Free Planets was established, Solo, along with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian were sent on several missions to bring secure attendees for the First Conference of Free Peoples. After these recruitment missions, the group decided to take a break to visit Chewbacca's family on Kashyyyk. Arriving on the planet, the group felt a sense of uneasiness about Rwookrrorro. With Chewbacca leading the way, they made their way to Chewbacca's home. However, they fell into a trap set by Chewbacca's brother-in-law, Vargi, and his mysterious companion, Knife. As it turned out, Knife's true intention was to set up a slave ring on Kashyyyk, using Chewbacca's family as hostages to keep the Wookiees in line. Fortunately, Han and Lando were able to break free.

While Lando contacted the Alliance, Solo tried to keep Chewbacca from being brought onto a slaving ship. He managed to free Chewbacca but was interrupted by Vargi. Vargi dragged Chewbacca aside and proceeded to beat him for his attempt to escape. Han could not bear to see Chewbacca being unmercifully beaten and struck Vargi. Furious, Vargi went on a rampage and struck Solo, rendering him unconscious. Shortly afterwards, Lando returned with weapons and armed the Wookiees still loyal to the Alliance. The Wookiees overthrew their rogue counterparts just as Chewbacca was able to overpower Vargi, throwing him to the ground. Han woke up just in time to see Knife escaping from the battlefield. Though Knife's slave ring had been dismantled, the skirmish on Kashyyyk would mark the beginning of the Nagai-Tof War.

Han and Bey brawl on the forest floor.

Things went from bad to worse as certain members of the Alliance began to grumble about the manner in which the leadership of the Alliance was run, claiming it was too oppressive. The leaders of the discontent parties gathered on Kabray to share their concerns with one another. Most attending the gathering were non-military members of the Alliance, and had contributed little to the Rebellion’s fight against the Empire. In order to prove that their leadership was not aloof, Admiral Ackbar dispatched Han and Princess Leia, along with four Zeltrons as an escort, to the meeting on Kabray. Unfortunately, Han and Leia walked right into a trap and were captured by the Nagai. While Han and Leia tried to formulate a plan involving Leia pretending to faint, the Zeltron set their plan in motion, taking out the guards. Eventually, the Nagai were all rounded up and captured by Solo and the others, averting the Nagai's strategic win on Kabray.

Shortly after the skirmish on Kabray, the Nagai forces attacked the forest moon of Endor, officially starting the Nagai-Tof War. While Ackbar led forces in space, Han and Luke ventured off to investigate a disturbance in the forest that had been reported by the Ewok Tippet. They found a squad of Nagai and Maccabree preparing to attack the Alliance base, covered by the diversion taking place in space. While Luke set off to warn the base, Han encountered the traitor Bey.

Although Bey bested Solo in hand-to-hand combat, the Nagai Commander, Knife, intervened and tried to shoot Han. Bey had not wanted to kill Han and so tackled Ozrei knocking the shot off target. This gave Solo a chance to grab his blaster and shoot Ozrei—and he did not miss. An anguished Bey revealed Ozrei was his half-brother, and allowed Han to continue on to the listening post. By the time he arrived there, the Maccabree had been driven off, flying away in their flight-suits.

The war escalated once the Nagai's sworn enemies, the Tofs, joined the war. The final battle of the war came at the Battle of Saijo after the Alliance allied with the Nagai against the Tofs and their leader Prince Sereno. Once the Alliance learned of Sereno's and Lumiya's Saijo, a strike team consisting of Han, Princess Leia, Luke, Dani, Knife, Den Shiva, and one stormtrooper were sent to Saijo to neutralize the threat. Han and others were able to defeat the Tof and Lumiya, causing Prince Sereno to surrender. The Nagai Tof war finally ended.

[edit] Tracking Zsinj

Though not always a formal member of its military, and never holding official political office, Han Solo played an important role as part of the New Republic. Solo was instrumental in the Liberation of Kashyyyk, eliminating its oppressors such as the Trandoshan slaver Pekt and Moff Darcc.^[14] Solo went on to take part in the defeat of many warlords.

In 7 ABY, Warlord Zsinj's attacks on the New Republic had the populace frightened and discontented. Due to his reputation and public image, Solo was given command of a fleet group and charged with hunting down and killing Zsinj. His flagship was the Mon Remonda, a Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. Under his command were several other Mon Calamari cruisers, a few Imperial Star Destroyers, smaller frigates, and several starfighter squadrons, including Rogue Squadron, Wraith Squadron, Polearm Squadron, and Nova Squadron. Han and Zsinj played a dogged game of each pursuing and trying to trap the other. In one effort, Han employed a fake Millennium Falcon, known as the Millennium Falsehood, and another time got the aid of an Imperial Immobilizer 418 interdictor cruiser under the command of Teren Rogriss, his Imperial anti-Zsinj counterpart. In his final fleet battle against Zsinj in late 7 ABY, Solo and his fleet were led to believe that they had destroyed Zsinj's flagship, the Iron Fist Executor-class Star Dreadnought. However, Zsinj had fooled them by detonating a reconstructed Star Dreadnought as cover while the Iron Fist jumped into hyperspace.^[15]

[edit] Disastrous courtship

Following the hunt for Zsinj, Han returned to Coruscant and discovered—much to his dismay—that Leia was asked for her hand in marriage by Prince Isolder of Hapes. At a formal reception the Hapes delegation presented Leia with a number of gifts which included a Hapan Gun of Command and a special plant. Jealous and depressed, Han went into the undercity of Coruscant and won ownership of the planet Dathomir in a game of sabacc. Soon after he kidnapped Leia and took her to the planet to win her heart. However, they soon learned that the planet was home to the Dathomiri "Force witches" as well as Warlord Zsinj's hidden base of operations. Han was captured by one of the witch clans who hoped to trade him to Zsinj in exchange for a transport to escape Dathomir. Han was tortured by Gethzerion, the leader of the witches, before being rescued by Luke single-handedly piloting the Millennium Falcon with the aid of the Force.^[16]